News on 12 December 2000
The Private Security Industry Bill, published last week,
will improve the credibility of professional companies and enable the
private sector to develop its role in community safety, says the British
Security Industry Association (BSIA). However, the Association regrets
that the Bill does not propose regulation of in-house security guards,
as proposed in the 1999 White Paper.
Five years after the Home Affairs Select Committee recommended that the
contract manned guarding sector be regulated and almost 20 years since
the BSIA began campaigning for regulation, the activities of around 2000
firms and 120,000 security guards will finally be the subject of legislation.
Greece is the only other European country with an unregulated private
security industry.
David Cowden, Chairman of the BSIA, says: ‘Regulation will isolate
the less responsible elements of the industry and make them accountable
for any breaches of the new laws. It will give credibility to an industry
that has long fought to protect its image from the actions of a minority
group of disreputable operators.
‘We welcome the recognition of the work done already to raise standards
and will encourage the voluntary ‘Inspected Companies Scheme’
to improve quality in the industry. Regulation will also provide a sound
foundation on which to raise standards in areas such as pay, working hours
and training.
Under the Bill's proposals, those working in the industry or setting up
a private security firm would have to apply for a licence. Working without
a licence would be a criminal offence.
The Bill would create a Security Industry Authority to:
- license individuals working under contract in designated sectors of
the industry (manned guarding - including door supervisors and wheelclampers
- security consultants, private investigators and keyholders);
- license bouncers and wheelclampers who work in-house as well as under
contract;
- license the supervisors, managers and directors of security and wheelclamping
companies;
- run a voluntary 'Inspected Companies Scheme' for all companies working
in the industry and award a 'quality mark' - a voluntary accreditation
scheme for companies who meet specified standards; and
- set and raise professional standards in the industry - for example by ensuring that wheelclamping companies follow a detailed code of practice.
The Authority would maintain a national register of licensed
individuals and approved companies. It would be self-financing from fees.
Fees would be levied on individual licence applicants, and it would be
open to employers to reimburse this cost. The Government estimates that
between 100,000 and 130,000 individuals will be licensed each year.
Home Secretary Jack Straw said: "Much has already been done by the
industry itself to raise standards, but more can still be done to root
out criminality, improve professionalism and increase the confidence of
the public and the police. Reputable companies enforce effective standards,
but less scrupulous companies undermine their efforts. There is currently
no regulation of the industry and cowboys, crooks, conmen and violent
criminals are free to operate unchecked.
"Our proposals would, for the first time, introduce proper regulation
of the industry, ensure that companies meet specified standards and that
individuals working within it have been vetted. They will increase public
confidence and benefit reputable businesses, not least because they have
been developed in close consultation with the industry."
Read
the full text of the Private Security Industry Bill
www.bsia.co.uk
